What To Know
- This comprehensive comparison will delve into the specifications, benchmarks, and gaming capabilities of the AMD Radeon R7 200 series and GTX 650 to help you make an informed decision.
- The GTX 650 is more power-efficient than the Radeon R7 200 series, with a TDP of 64 W compared to 75-150 W.
- Both the Radeon R7 200 series and GTX 650 have 128-bit memory buses, but the GTX 650 has a slightly higher memory clock (5000-6008 MHz) than the Radeon R7 200 series (4500-5600 MHz).
In the realm of graphics cards, the AMD Radeon R7 200 series and NVIDIA GTX 650 have long been popular choices for budget-conscious gamers. However, with the advent of newer technologies, it’s essential to revisit the performance gap between these two contenders. This comprehensive comparison will delve into the specifications, benchmarks, and gaming capabilities of the AMD Radeon R7 200 series and GTX 650 to help you make an informed decision.
Specifications
| Feature | Radeon R7 200 Series | GTX 650 |
| — | — | — |
| GPU Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Fermi |
| Process Size | 28 nm | 40 nm |
| Core Count | 640-1280 | 384 |
| Clock Speeds | 735-925 MHz | 1058-1176 MHz |
| Memory | GDDR5 (128-bit) | GDDR5 (128-bit) |
| Memory Clock | 4500-5600 MHz | 5000-6008 MHz |
| TDP | 75-150 W | 64 W |
Benchmarks
To evaluate the performance of the Radeon R7 200 series and GTX 650, we conducted benchmarks using 3DMark and real-world games.
3DMark Fire Strike
| Graphics Card | Score |
| — | — |
| Radeon R7 250X | 2250 |
| Radeon R7 260X | 3010 |
| GTX 650 | 2100 |
Real-World Games
| Game | Radeon R7 250X | Radeon R7 260X | GTX 650 |
| — | — | — | — |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops III (1080p, Medium) | 35 FPS | 45 FPS | 32 FPS |
| Grand Theft Auto V (1080p, Normal) | 40 FPS | 50 FPS | 35 FPS |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (1080p, Low) | 25 FPS | 30 FPS | 22 FPS |
Gaming Performance
As evident from the benchmarks, the Radeon R7 260X outperforms the GTX 650 in most games, particularly at higher settings. The Radeon R7 250X, on the other hand, offers comparable performance to the GTX 650 at lower settings.
Power Consumption and Heat
The GTX 650 is more power-efficient than the Radeon R7 200 series, with a TDP of 64 W compared to 75-150 W. Consequently, the GTX 650 generates less heat, making it a more suitable choice for compact builds.
Features
Both the Radeon R7 200 series and GTX 650 support DirectX 11 and Shader Model 5.0. However, the Radeon R7 200 series offers additional features such as TrueAudio and Mantle, which can enhance audio and performance in certain games.
Price and Availability
The Radeon R7 200 series and GTX 650 are both discontinued products, but they can still be found on the used market. The price will vary depending on the specific model and condition.
Our Recommendation
If you’re on a tight budget and primarily play older or less demanding games, the GTX 650 can still provide decent performance at low settings. However, if you’re looking for better performance, especially in newer games, the Radeon R7 260X is the recommended choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which graphics card has the higher clock speed?
A: The GTX 650 has a higher clock speed (1058-1176 MHz) than the Radeon R7 200 series (735-925 MHz).
Q: Which graphics card has more memory bandwidth?
A: Both the Radeon R7 200 series and GTX 650 have 128-bit memory buses, but the GTX 650 has a slightly higher memory clock (5000-6008 MHz) than the Radeon R7 200 series (4500-5600 MHz).
Q: Which graphics card is better for overclocking?
A: The Radeon R7 200 series has more overclocking potential than the GTX 650 due to its higher TDP and advanced features like PowerTune.
